BedsVoice Citizen panels
Welcome to BedsVoice Panel
The Bedfordshire Consultation Group is made up of:- Central Bedfordshire Council
- Bedfordshire Police Authority
- Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service
These 3 Bedfordshire public authorities have joined together to set up a county wide citizen’s panel called BedsVoice. The panel is a group of 5,000 residents willing to be polled on a wide variety of issues covering the full range of public services in the county.
Together the organisations cover education, planning, policing, fire and rescue, highways, environmental health, waste and recycling, crime and disorder and much more.
An independent market research company called SMSR (new window) has been appointed to manage the panel on behalf of the partners.
The panel will be asked questions through different methods – by postal surveys, by telephone interviews, in focus groups and in larger meetings. Combining the partners research will save public money and cut down “questionnaire fatigue” by reducing the number of times local people are asked for their views during the year, without cutting down their opportunities to influence local public services.
Often people get three or four questionnaires in rapid succession, which reduces their interest in responding and cuts the feedback public organisations receive. BedsVoice gets around this problem by planning and combining consultation by the five organisations.
All organisations are pleased to see this panel bringing together local government and the blue light services. This will help the member organisations tackle the issues local people are most concerned about and put their resources where it really matters. It is very much hoped that local people who take part will find it both interesting and rewarding.
What's New
Upcoming survey!
Look out for the latest BedsVoice survey from Central Bedfordshire Council in October 2009, asking for Central Bedfordshire residents’ views on things like climate change, recycling and waste services.
BedsVoice Newsletter
The latest edition of the BedsVoice Panel newsletter is now available from this website. Follow the link below to view the newsletter in PDF format.
BedsVoice newsletter (application/pdf; 4680kB) Autumn 2009
BedsVoice member certificate
All members of the BedsVoice should have received a BedsVoice member certificate through the post in the on joining the panel. If you have not received yours, please contact SMSR on free phone 0800 1380845.
The BedsVoice web pages will be updated at least once a month to keep you informed of new developments.